Pipe-dredge.



'11. J. LOVB'TT. PIPE DRBDGE. APPLICATION FILED MAB. 2, 1908.'

Patented Deo. 29, 1908.

5 SHBETS-SHEBT VIH ` T. J. LOVETT.

Pm DREDGE. APPLIGATI'ON FILED MAR. z, 190e. 908, 1 1 3, Patented Deo.29, 1908. 5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' T, J. LOVETT.

PIPE DBEDGB. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2, 1908 Patented Dec. 29,1908.

T.. J. LOVE'I'T;

PIPE DIiLIEIDGlI-I. APPLICATION FILED MAB. z, 190s.

Patented 1380.29, 1908.

, 5 sHEBTssHEET 4.

rnrlsv Nomea: PETERS ca.. wAsmMarmy, D. c.

T. J. LQVBTT. PIPE DRBDGB. APPL'IGATION FILED MAR. 2, 1908.

Patented Dec. 29, 1908. 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

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THOMAS J. LOVETI, OF SACRAMENTO, CALIFO COVERY COMPANY, OF CHICAGO,vILLINOIS,

RNIA, ASSIGNOR TO BLACK SAND & GOLD RE- A CORPORATION OF ARIZONATERRITORY.

Pirnfnnnnen.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed March 2, 1908. SerialNo. 418,790.

Patented Dec. 29, 1908.

T 0 all whom 'it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. Lovn'rr, a citizen of the United States,residing at Sacramento, in the county of Sacramento and State ofCalifornia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Pi e-Dredges,of which the following is a speciiincation.

My invention relates to an improvement in the so-called pipe dredgeswhich are of the type wherein a jet of air under pressure, supplementedby water under pressure, is directed into the mouth o f a movable andadjustable dredging pipe to` gather into and force through the pipe thematerial to be dredged.

The pipe dredge which has but recently been improved to the stagewherein its practical utility is generally recognized possesses certaindistinctive advantages over dredges of the suction type or those of themechanical type employing dredging-buckets, particularly for raising anddelivering sand, silt, gravel or the like material susceptible of rapiddisintegration by the action of water under pressure directed againstit. These advantages may be stated briefly to lie in the facts that thepipe dredge involves a less'expensive equipment, has greater capacityunder the same power application, can excavate from a greater depth, andis adapted to a broader field of operation than dredges of other typeshitherto employed.

My object is to provide certain improvements in the construction of apipe dredge,

I have found necessary,

which improvements or at least desirable, 1n practical operations in thefield.

In .the accompanying drawings which illustrate my improvements-Figure 1is a broken view showing a floating dredge in side elevation with apontoon, the air and water supplying pipes being broken away at the headcarried by the main or dredging pipe; Fig. 2, a front elevation of thedredge with the same pipes broken away; Figs. 3 and 4, enlarged brokensectional views of the lower end portion of the dredging pipe andillustrating the head and its equipment; Fig. 5, a plan section taken online 5 in Figs. 3 and 4; Fig. 6, a sectional plan view of theshoe-portion of the head; Fig. 7, a broken diagrammatic view showing'the dredging pipe and air and Water supplying pipeswith theircontrolling valves; Fig, 8, an enlargedl-39 contain c l l l i brokensection of the delivery-end portion of the air-jet pipe; Fig. 9, asimilar view of the delivery end portion of the return water7 pipe; Fig.10, a similar view of the delivery-end portion of a cutter jet pipe; andFig. 11, a similar view of the delivery. end portion of the pilot jetpipe.

15 is a floating hull provided with a superstructure 16 housing a boiler17, engine 18, aircompressor 19, preferably reciprocating water pump 20,winch 21 and any other necessary power apparatus. All the apparatus maybe upon a floating hull or in any other location or locations desired.

22 is the main or dredging pipe provided near its lower end with asurrounding disk or plate 23 provided with eye-bolts 24 or like meansfor the attachment thereto of a raising and lowering cable 25 passingover a sheave 26 at the top of the derrick-frame 27 to the winch 21.

Rigidly secured to the disk 23 is a cage or grid formed of spaced bars28 reinforced by rings or collars 29 and tapering at the lower vendportion to a frusto conicals hoe 30. The bars 28 are fastened to thereinforcing collars and shoe by means of rivets, as indicated, and thebars may be either round, as indicated, or of any other desired shape incross-section. Surrounding the bars. 28 between the disk 23 and uppercollar 29 is a cylindrical wall 31 forming with the disk a Ahoodreaching below the plane of the mouth of the pipe 22. The disk, cage andattendant parts form an open head for the dredging pipe. Surrounding andparalleling the pipe 22 are an air-supply pipe 32, a water-supplyingpipeor return water pi e 33, a water pipe, or upper-cutter supp y pipe,34, a water pipe, or lower-cutter7 supply pipe, 35, and a water pipe, orpilot-jet supply pipe, 36. The ipe 32 at its delivery end projectscentral y upward a short distance into the mouth-portion of thedredging-pipe 22 and is rovided in its end portion with a suitableciieck-valve 37. The return water pipe 33 has tracted end ortionterminating centrally below the delivery end of the pipe 32 and isrovided with a suitable check-valve 38. The cutterepipes 34, 35terminate in heads 39 containing chambers from which radiate shortoutletipes or nozzles 40. The heads eck-valves 41 of suitable conanupward-extending conl -pipes in rigid relation to each struction, andare located one above the other and centrally below the mouth of thepipe 22, beneath the return water pipe. The pilot-jet pipe 36 terminatesin a chainbered head 42 which projects through the opening in the shoe30 and contains a suitable check-valve 43.

The check-valves described operate as lnon-return valves, permitting theready egress ot' i'luid from the pipes, but preventing the ingress ofmaterial at any time which might tend to clog the pipes. Any other formof suitable non-return valves may be substituted for those shown. Theair and water pipes described pass through openings provided for them inthe disk 23 and similar disks, or spiders, may be provided along thepipe 22 at desired intervals to hold all the other. The water and airsupply pipes described may extend more or less nearly to the top of thedredging-pipe 22 and are raised and lowered with trie latter by means ofthe cable 25, between the forward central uprignts of the derrick-frame-The upper end of the pipecluster may be steadied by chains 44 fastenedto the cluster and passing around the uprights, as indicated, or thestea dying may be accomplished by any other suitable means. Thedredging-pipe 22 terminates at its upper end in a segmental elbow 45, atwhich it is connected by means of a iiexible hose 46 with thedischarge-pipe 47. The discharge-pipe 47 may extend to any desireddistance and may consist of sections joined together by sleeves,hose-sections 48, or any other suitable means. Some of the sections maybe on pontoons, if necessary, and tne pipe-line thus formed caused toterminate in the location where it is desired to deliver the materialdredged. The water supply pipes are connected at their upper endsthrough hose-connections 49 with a main water supply pipe 50 extendingfrom the pump 20. interposed between said water pipes and main supplypipe are opening and closing valves 51. he air-pipe 32 communicates atits upper end through a i'lexible hose 52 with an air-supply pipe 53which extends to the compressor reservoir 19. interposed in the pipe 47are preferably two gate-valves 54 and 55, and extending to the pipe 47between the said gate-valves is a pipe 56, having a valve 57,communicating with the water supply pipe 50, and a pipe 5S having avalve and communicating with the air-supply pipe 53. Extending from thepipe 53 to the pipe 50 is a pipe-connection 60 provided with one or twovalves 6l. The pipe 53 may be provided with a valve 62 between the pipe60 and hose 52 and with a valve 63 between the pipe 58 and compressor;and the pipe 50 may be provided with a valve 64 between the pump andpipe 56.

In practice the pipe-cluster may be lowi l l l l l l i l l i l l t l i,

eied by means oi! the winch 2l to the proper depth in the material to bedredged. l he owering of the dredging, and other, pipes may be aided bydirecting a `iet ol water troni the main water pipe 5t) through thepilotjet 42, which by displacing material will permit the pipe-clusterto descend by gravity. ll" desired, the displacing ol material may beliurther aided by opening the valves which will direct water l'ronr thepipe 5t) to the upper and lower cutter-jets. ll', l'or example, sand,gravel, or the like, is to be. dredged l'roin beneath overlying layersolE clay or other material, the pipe can be caused to et its way throughthe clay, or the lilie, and descend either by gravity alone, or uith theaddition ol" rainniing, to the depth desired. Excepting only lorparticular purposes hereinafter described, the valves :'34, 55 and 64remain alwaj-,fs open and the valves 57, 59 and 6l remain always closed.ll hen the operator starts to lower the pipe or hen the head has reachedthe position or depth at which dredging is to proceed, he opens thevalves 62 and 63, il both have been closed, thereafter regulating thetorce oll the jet ot' air thus turned into the pipe :732 lating one olsaid valves, sav the valve 63. rlhe valves 51 are also manipulated byhini to provide a suitable jet olE returnwater through the pipe andsuitable cuttingjetsH through one or both heads Slt). 'ihe pilot-jetthrough pipe 36 inay, as a rule, e shut oll except when it des .ed tol'urther lower the pipe. 'lhe cutter-jets operate to stir into solutionthe material to be dredged, v-.hich is iorced by the returm waterU jetin the direction ol they niouth ol' the main-pipe 22. l he main lil'tingand iniling force is contributed by the airiet from the pipe 32, nhichtends to suck the material into the lower end ol the pipe and force itupward through the pipe. 'l he gathering of the material into the mouthol' the pipe is greatly aided by the return-water jet supplemented bythe conlining action ol' the housing formed by the cylindrical uall 3land dish 23. As stated, the height to which the dreiilged material maybe raised and the strength of forced through the delivery pipe 47depends for the most part upon the strength olt the air-jet, which byits direct and expanding forces impels the solution. The strength ot theair-jet will, of course, depend upon the degree of opening el the valve63 and the speed of the compressor. 'lhis can all be regulated inaccordance with the length of the pipe-line 47 and consequently the.distance at which the dredged material is to be discharged. Under agiven head a selution containing, say, ten per cent. ol selrs can bedriven tl'rrough the pipe-line a given dis` tance to be discharged g ata given elevation. An increased head oi pressure, other things l tl()being equal, is required'to discharge a soluand volume of the air-j et,as described, and to and this can all be regulated by manipulating y 47,the valve 54 may land water may be .through the tion containing anincreased percentage of solids, or to discharge the solution at lagreater elevation or at a greater distance. All of this would beregulated by the strength some extent by the strength of the returnwaterjet. The percentage of solids in the solution can ordinarily beregulated by the strength and supply 'of the cutter-j ets coupled withthat of the return-water77 jet,

the valve 51.

In case the pipe-line 47 should become clogged from any cause, thecutter-jets may be shut off temporarily, so that the proportion ofsolids in the solution impelled through the pipe may be reduced. If thedegree of clogging requires that no solids for the time being shall bedirected into the pipe be closed and the valves 62 and 51 as well, sothat a force of mixed air directed immediately into i the pipe-line 47to clearit of obstructions. l Under certain conditions either the valve57 or 59 may be opened alone to clean out the pipe-line 47. In stoppingoperations, particularly in the case of a long pip e-line 47, the valve54 should be closed and the valves 57, 59 opened to clean out thepipe-line before the solids have a chance to settle therein. Aftercleaning out the pipe-line thevalve 55 may be closed and the valve 54opened to direct fluid from either or both the pipes 56, 58 down-through the pipe 22 to clear the latter and the hose 46, whennecessary.

When dredging has been performed especially under a heavy over burdenofclay, it is sometimes difficult, if not impossible, to raise thedredging-pipe by means of a winch alone, owing to the pressure againstthe pipecluster of this over burden. Under the same conditions itissometimes difficult to further lower the dredging-pipe and attendantparts. By closing either-the valve 54 or 55 the air from the pipe 32 isprevented from passing through the dredging-pipeand pipeline and willescape from beneath the hood p portion of the head and rise around andpipe-cluster, with the effect of clearing apath around thepipe-clusterand thus freeing it so that it can be raised by means of the winch, If agreater force or volume of air is required for this purpose, the lvalves 61 may be opened and the valve 64 l closed and air caused to passthrough the return-water pipe 33 as well as, if desired, through one orall pipes 34, 35 and 36, When the air under pressure is directed intothe head portion anda valve to the pipe-line is closed, the pressure ofthe surrounding water and over-burden causes the air-pressure toaccumulate at the head with the full force of the compressor, and asAits easiest` 65 path of escape 1s directly upward around anddredging-pipe,

lof said pipe,

through the pipe-cluster, it invariably has the effect of freeing thelatter sufficiently from the clay, or the like, to permit its beingraised by the winch without dragging down the forward end of the hullunduly.

The advantages named, and others, found necessary or desirable in the oeration of a pipe-dredge are rendered easy o accomplishment by theconnections and disposition of valves above described. When any of thewater or air supply pipes are thrown out of action for any reason, thereis always danger of the inrush of solids which would tend to clog theoutlets to the extent of making it diiiicult or impossible to clean themout with fluid-pressure. By providing the valves described in theoutlet-end-portions of the air and water-pipes this undue clogging isprevented.

The head, provided as described, forms a strong and durable constructionparticularly well adapted for its purpose. The grid formed by the barsand rings prevents access to the chamber of any undisintegrated objectsthat cannot be discharged through the and tends to prevent such objectsfrom obstructing the force of the jets. Italso affords a ramming-head orpoint that will withstand necessary strain.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters ,Patent is 1. In apipe-dredge, the dredging-pipe, of a the combination with head at thelower end of said pipe constructed with verticallydisposed parallelside-bars forming a chamber-lncasing grid, and jet-pipes terminating insaid chamber.

2. In a pipe-dredge, the combination with the dredging-pipe, of a headat the lower end of said pipe constructed with verticallydisposedparallel side-bars and reinforcing rings forming a chamber-incasinggrid, and jet-pipes terminating in said chamber.

3. `In a pipe-dredge, the combination with the dredging-pipe, of a headat the lower end of said pipe constructed with bars forming achamber-incasing grid, a shoe at the lower end of said grid, andjet-pipes terminating in said chamber.

4. In a pipe-dredge, the dredging-pipe, of a the combination with headat the lower end constructed with verticallydisposed parallel side-barsforming a chamber-incasing grid, a tapering shoe secured to the lowerend-portions of said bars, and jet-pi es terminating in said chamber.

5. n a pipe-dredge, the combination with the dredging-pipe, of a head atthe lower end of said pipe forming a chamber-incasing grid, a plate'vforming the to of said chamber, and jet-pipes extending t rough saidplate and terminating in said chamber.

6. In a pipe-dredge, thecombination with the dredging-pipe, of a head atthe lower end of said pipe constructed with side-bars forming aehamber-incasing grid, a plate forming the top of said chamber, atapering shoe secured to said bars and forming the bottom of saidchamber, and jet-pipes extending through said plate and terminating insaid chamber.

7. In a pipe-dredge, the combination with the dredging-pipe, of a headat the lower end of said pipe constructed with side-bars forming achamber-incasing grid, a plate forming the top of said chamber, and awall extending downward from said plate and inclosin the upper part ofsaid chamber.

In a pipe-dredge, the combination with the dredging-pipe, ot' a head atthe lower end of said pipe constructed with side-bars torming achamber-ineasing grid, a plate forming the top of said chamber, adownwardlytapering shoe provided with a central opening at the bottom ofsaid chamber and jet-pipes terminating in said chamber.

9. In a pipe-dredge, the combination with the dredging-pipe, of a headat the lower end oi said pipe constructed with verticallydisposedparallel side-bars forming a chamer-incasing grid, reinforcing ringssecured to said bars, a tapering shoe secured to the lower end-portionsof said dredging-pipe, and jet-pipes terminating in said chamber.

In a pipe-dredge, the combination with the dredging-pipe, of a head atthe lower end of said pipe forming a chamberincasing grid, j et-pipesextending p arallel with the dredging-pipe and terminating in saidchamber, and a raising and lowering cable for the head and pipesfastened to said head.

11. In a with the dredging-pipe, of a head at the lower end of said pipeconstructed with bars forming a chamber-incased grid, a perforatedtapering shoe secured to the lower end-portion of said bars, jetipesterminating in said chamber and a p1 ot-jet pipe extending through saidchamber and having a head portion iitting through said perforation.

In a pipe-dredge, the combination with the dredging pipe, of a head atthe lower end of said pipe constructed with a chamber-ineasing grid, anair-jet pipe extending from a compressed-air supplier into said chamberand terminating centrally in the lower end-portion of the dredging-pipe,

and a return-water jet-pipe terminating in said chamber below saidair-jet pipe.

13. In a pipe-dredge, vthe combination with the dredging-pipe, of a headat the lower end of said pipe constructed with a chamberincasing grid,an air-j et pipe extending from a compressed-air supplier andterminating in the lower end pipe-dredge, the combination of thedredging-pipe; and` laterally-discharging cutter-iet pipe terminating insaid chamber and surrounded by the grid.

14. In a pipe-dredge, the combination l i l with the dredging-pipe, of ahead at the lower end of said pipe constructed with a chamberincasinggrid, an air-jet pipe, extending from a com Dressed-air supplier andterminating in the lower end of the dredging-pipe a return-water`iet-pipe and latcrally hscharging cutter-jet pipe both terminating insaid. chamber below said air-jet pipe.

15. In a pipe-dredge, the combination with the dredging-pipe, of a headconstructed with a chamber-incasing grid, an air-jet pipe extending froma compressed-air supplier and terminating in the lower end-portion elsaid dredging-pipe, return-water jet and cutter-jet pipes terminating insaid chamber, below said air-jet pipe and a pilotjet pipe dischargingthrough the lower end of said chamber.

16. In a pipe-dredge, the combination with the dredging-pipe, el a headat the lower end of said pipe forming a chamberincasing grid, an air-jetpipe terminating in said chamber and a check-valve in the discharge-endportion of said air-jet pipe.

17. In a pipe-dredge, the combination with the dredging-pipe, ol a headat the lower end ot said pipe forming a chamberineasing grid, areturn-reiter pipe terminating in said chamber, and a cheek-valve in thedischarge-end portion of said return-water pipe.

18. In a pipe-dredge, the combination with the dredging-pipe, ol a headat the ower end olE said pipe forming a chamberincasing grid, alaterally-discharging cutterjet pipe terminating in said chamber and acheck-valve in the discharge-end portion of said cutter-iet pipe.

19. In a pipe-dredge, the combination with the dredging-pipe, et a headat the lower end of said pipe forming a chamberincasing grid, a pilotietpipe discharging in a downward direction from the bottom ol1 said. head,and a check-valve in the discharge-end portion of said pilot-jet pipe.

20. In a pipe-dredge, the combination with the dredging-pipe, pipe lineand airiet supply pipe termii'iating at the lower end of saiddredging-pipe, ol a valve interposed between the dredging-pipe andpipe-line constructed to operate substantially as set forth.

21. In a pipe-dredge, the combination with the dredging-pipe, pipe-lineand air-iet supply pipe terminating at the lower end olE saiddredging-pipe, of means for directing iluid under pressure immediatelyinto said pipe-line without passing it through the dredging-pipe toclean the pipe-line in the manner set forth.

22. In a pipe-dredge, with the dredgii'ig-pipe, pipe-line and air-ietsupply pipe terminating at the lower end of said dredging-pipe, of meansfor directing water and air under pressure immediately into saidpipe-iine to clean the pipe-line Without passing it through thedredging-pipe in the manner set forth. 23. In a ipe-dredge, thecombination With the dre ging-pipe, pipe-line and air-jet supply pi eterminating at the lower end ortion o' said dredging-pipe7 of means fordirecting iiuid under pressure into the upper end of said dredging-pipe.

24. In a pipe-dredge, the combination with the dredging-pipe, air-jetand return- Water jet pipes, of valves operative to direct air underpressure in place of Water into the said return-Water jet-pipe, for thepurpose set forth.

25. In a ipe-dredge, the combination With'the dre ging-pipe, air-jet andWater-jet pipes, of valves operative to direct air under pressure inpiace of Water into one or more of said Water-Jet pipes for the purposeset forth. 20

THOMAS J. LOVETT. In the presence of O. Z. Gos'rIoK,

M. A. NURSE.

